Instrument panel



E. N. JACOBI.

INSTRUMENT PANEL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, 1920.

1 4373660, Patented 1)ec.5,1922.w

ELI-Q1.

WITNESSES Patented Sec. 5, 1922.

A T it EDWARD N, JAGOBI, O}? MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BRIGGS 85 STRATTON COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WTI$GONSIN.

.INSTRUBIENT PANEL.

Application filed October 28, 1920. Serial No. 420,327.

erence being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a. part of this specification.

This invention relates to instrument panels, especially such as may be used on the instrument board of an automobile in which to mount lighting and ignition switches, ammeters and the like, and has for its object to provide a firm support for the instruments, of neat and ornamental appearance and without visible attaching means.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a panel of thin sheet metal with a heavier sheet metal clamp extending thereacross as a bridge and containing the attaching means, said clamp engaging the edges of the panel to firmly clamp them against the instrument board.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists'in an instrument panel as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in the different views:

Fig. 1 is a rear View of an instrument panel constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse view thereof, partly in section, showing the instrument panel mounted on an instrument board; I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the end of the clamp on the plane of line of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an end. view of the clamping member.

In these drawings 10 indicates the thin sheet metal. panel member having its edge bent to form a continuous rounding flange 11 to bear on the face of the instrument board 12. Openings 13 in the panel member are adapted to have instruments fitted thereto in any desired manner, and between these openings and extending across the panel from one edge to the other is a clamp member 14, preferably consisting of a strip of heavier sheet metal. The clamp member is shaped to fit the sectional shape of the panel member, as seen in Fig. 2, with its ends turned back to the plane of the edge of the panel member where it is connected therewith. The connection is formed by tangs or ears 15 on the edge of the panel member 10 being bent through a notch 16 in the end of the clamp member 1 1 and clinched against the inner face thereof. By reason of these tangs fitting against the ends of the notches in the ends of the clamp member they serve not only to hold the panel member securely on the clamp member but prevent all relative movement between such members.

Near the bent ends of the clamp member where it broadened there are depressions forming pockets 1? of a sh ape to receive and lit the flat-sided heads of screw studs 18, the studs passing through openings in the bot tom of the pockets and adapted to enter openings in the instrument board with nuts 19 threaded on their ends to draw the clamp member into clamping engagement with the face or" the instrument board. hen the clamp member is thus clamped to the instrument board it holds the panel in place with a neat tight-fitting joint between the flange of the panel member and the instrument board. The countersunk fiat-sided heads of the studs prevent the studs from turning while the clamping nuts are threaded thereon and are completely hidden by the panel member. The panel member can be made of thinner stock than would be feasible if ordinary connecting screws were used to attach it directly to the instrument board, for with the studs mounted on the heavier clamping member there is no danger of the clamp connection dishing the panel member or drawing it out of shape. In other words, with this construction the clamping action is taken by the clamp member instead of the panel member. At the same time the panel member is firmly held in place and constitutes a rigid support for the instruments. Another advantage for the use of the clamp member with its securing studs, over the ordinary construction with exposed screw heads, is that the finished ornamental face of the panel member is not liable to be scratched by slipping tools when clamping the panel in place.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An instrument panel, comprising a thin sheet metal panel member, a heavier clamp member extending across the back of the panel member, and attaching means carried by the clamp member.

2. An instrument panel, comprising a thin sheet metal panel memberu a heavier clamp member on the back of the panel member with its ends connected with opposite edges of the panel member, and securing means mounted on the clamp member;

3. An instrument panel, comprising a thin sheet metal panel member having a bent surrounding flange, clamp member on the back of the panel member correspondingly bent and connected with the opposite edges of the panel member, and securing means on the clamp member.

l. An instrument panel comprising a thin sheet metal panel. member having a surrounding flange, a clamp member on the back of the panel member with bent ends fitting within the flange and provided with. recesses in their bearing edges, tangs on the flange bent through said recesses, and securing means mounted on the clamp member.

5. An instrument panel comprising a thin sheet metal panel member, a clamp member on the back thereof and secured thereto, screw studs passing through the clamp memher and provided with fiat-sided heads, and pockets formed in the clamp member to receive the flat-sided heads of the screw studs and shaped to fit therewith.

6. An instrument panel for automobile panel boards and the like, comprising a thin sheet metal panel member having a bent surrounding flange to fit against the panel 1 ,aezeee board, a clamp member on the back of the panel member, and securing means on the clamp member for clamping it to the panel board, the edges of the panel member being clamped between the clamp member and the panel board.

7. Aninstrument panel for mounting instruments on the panel board of an automobile or the like, comprising a panel member of thin sheet metal with its edges bent to form a flange to bear on the panel board, and means for clamping the panel member to the panel board without dishing or distorting the panel member and comprising a heavier clamp member extending across the panel member, clamping studs secured to the clamp member, and means for connecting the clamp member tothe panel member.

8. An instrument panel for mounting instruments on the panel board of an automobile or the like, comprising a panel member oi thin sheet metal with its edges bent to form a flange to bear on the panel board, and means for clamping the panel member to the panel board without dishing or distorting the panel member and comprising a heavier clamp member extending across the panel member, clamping studs secured to the clamp member, and means for connecting the clamp member to the panel member comprising tangs on the edge of the flange of the panel member bent through recesses in the ends of the clamp member.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

EDWARD N, J ACOBI. 

